Bayside have been traversing the long and winding road of pop-punk for over a decade. Hailing from Queens, New York, the band released their debut EP Long Stories Short back in 2001. Fast-forward ten years, and Bayside have released their fifth LP, Killing Time. Over the years, Bayside have seen their peers, such as New Found Glory and Silverstein, make the jump to the big leagues while they have consistently flown under the radar. Is Killing Time going to finally get them over the hump? Most likely not. However, Bayside has taught us that making consistent, passionate, and professional music will lead to a rather devoted fan base and the chance to make music for a living.
 
Killing Time begins with the pile-driving “Already Gone,” a classic mid-2000’s jam that leaves no prisoners. Guitarist Jack O’Shea drops riff after riff while vocalist Anthony Raneri sings, “How sad you’re gonna be // I wish I could stick around // To see your face when you realize // You’ve changed.” Lead single “Sick, Sick, Sick” follows, employing the never-fail tactics of gang vocals and a catchy-as-the-flu chorus. Simply put, both songs are exemplars of guitar-driven Rock N’ Roll.
 
Bayside’s classic pop-punk sound comes through on “Mona Lisa” and “It’s Not A Bad Little War.” The former has nothing in common with the Panic! At The Disco song of the same name while the latter is an introspective track about being ordinary. The New Found Glory-esque “Sinking and Swimming On Long Island” captures the New York punk sound that has made so many bands’ careers. Yet, these three songs are rather ordinary and their placement smack-dab in the middle of the record drags Killing Time down slightly.
 
Bayside recover by ripping through “Seeing Sound” and “The Wrong Way.” Raneri asks on “Seeing Sound,” “What do you want from me? // Another song about apathy? // Heartbreak is a friend these days // But I couldn’t care less // That’s what I get paid to say.”
 
The group takes their foot off the pedal with “On Love, On Life,” a refreshing acoustic-piano tune that is smartly done. Raneri’s vocals are comforting and honest. Bayside are seasoned vets when it comes to crafting great ballads, so it is no surprise that “One Love, One Life” is one of the best songs on the record.
 
Concluding Killing Time are “The New Flesh” and “Killing Time.” One cannot help but imagine these songs being played in a jam-packed, sweltering V.F.W. Hall as bodies are pushed in every direction and sweat pours off the faces of those slaving over their instruments. These two songs epitomize what Bayside is about: honest, no-frills pop-punk. Killing Time, although not perfect, reasserts Bayside as a criminally underrated band who still have a few things to teach to the new crop of pop-punkers.

***/*****

*This review was composed by Mike Meeze